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5 Ways to Increase Productivity

With 365 calendar days until the next new year, there are a few different types of personality types looking at those days ahead.

Optimists brightly look at the coming days as a blank slate and fresh start. Achievers look ahead vividly, knowing what is coming because they've been putting plans in motion to make things happen. And those that carry a backpack of procrastination may stare into the coming months waiting to see what will arise.

No matter what personality type you may have, how can you address each day with an active mind to accomplish your daily tasks more productively and efficiently?

Career Coach and published writer, Ashley Stahl has determined these 5 essential habits to increasing productivity during the workday. A snippet from her article in Forbes magazine can be found below:

"1. Stop multitasking

It can be tempting to want to take care of a few tasks at once, especially if they seem small or easy. But it simply doesn’t work. According to neuroscience professor Earl K. Miller, “multitasking is not humanly possible.” We’re fooling ourselves when we say we can easily juggle phone calls, presentations, and eating lunch. Focus on one task at a time, and you’ll actually end up completing it faster.

2. Take breaks

We might think working longer hours means we’re getting more done, but we never work as well when we’re burned out. Studies show taking regular breaks helps concentration and boosts your mood. Take a five-minute walk around the office, or spend 15 minutes grabbing that mid-afternoon coffee.

3. Set small goals

Sometimes, looking at our goals can be overwhelming. Seeing a handful of big projects on our calendar can be stressful… but if you break it up into smaller tasks, you’ll feel more in control and will be much more productive. Rather than write down "finish project," break that into all the tasks it will take. This will keep you on track in your day-to-day and make the bigger projects seem less daunting.

4. Take care of the biggest tasks when you’re most alert

We all sometimes push aside big goals because we’re not confident we’ll accomplish them… And by the time we get to them, we’re too burned out from our day to give it the attention it needs. That’s how projects end up bleeding into additional days, and making it feel like productivity has disappeared.

Understanding when and how you work best is key to getting those big projects done on time. There’s no set schedule that works for everyone… if you’re a morning person, tackle the big tasks first thing in your day.

5. Implement the “two-minute rule”

Make the most of your time at work by filling those tiny windows with actual tasks. According to entrepreneur Steve Olenski, finding and immediately completing tasks that take two minutes or less actually saves you time. So, if it takes less than two minutes, do it now.

The other aspect of the two-minute rule is that any goal or habit can be started in under two minutes. This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to complete every task in 120 seconds, but starting new goals is the first step to accomplishing them!" - Ashley Stahl, Forbes contributor.